Drug dealing crackdown at Lincoln Plaza leads to three arrests

Police arrested three people Wednesday in a crackdown on street-level drug dealing at Lincoln Plaza.

Kayla Muniz, 21, of 49 Bailey Road, Shrewsbury, and Connor O'Brien, 22, of 130 Old Walpole Road, Keene, N.H., were each charged with possession of heroin and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Julio Cartagena, 25, of 57 Coral St., was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, heroin distribution and conspiracy to violate drug laws.

Police said they were at Lincoln Plaza conducting surveillance Wednesday morning after learning the parking lot had become a meeting area for street-level drug transactions.

Undercover officers noticed a gray Ford Escape in the lot that was far away from any nearby store while numerous parking spots were available closer to the stores.

Police said the Ford, with two occupants later identified as Ms. Muniz and Mr. O'Brien, was parked in a manner that gave officers concern.

When the Ford left, undercover officers followed it to the Dunkin' Donuts at 701 Plantation St., where officers noticed Ms. Muniz get out and enter the passenger side of a brown Honda Accord, driven by a man later identified as Mr. Cartagena.

After a short time, Ms. Muniz got back in the Ford. Officers believed a drug deal had just taken place, and they approached the Ford. Officers found a knotted bag of heroin in Ms. Muniz's sweatshirt, and in her purse police found two more knotted baggies containing heroin and several hypodermic needles. Police said Mr. O'Brien also had a hypodermic needle.

Police said other undercover officers followed the brown Honda and stopped it near Lincoln Plaza. Mr. Cartagena was arrested, and a search turned up 24 knotted bags of heroin, $1,083 in cash and a cellphone.

Ms. Muniz's cellphone showed the last call she made was to Mr. Cartagena's cellphone, police said.